Fantasy WRC Preview: Poland (Redux)

"Dusty Ventures" (dustyventures)
06/23/2014 at 14:30 • Filed to: fantasywrc, rally

I'm back from another rally, it's late, and I have work in the morning. As a result this will be a short fantasy preview. Sorry for partying.

Poland is the big wildcard of the 2014 season. It's only been run once in the past decade as a WRC event, back when Citroen was racing the C4, Ford was racing the Focus, and a 21-year-old Mads Ostberg was racing a Subaru. Of the five drivers competing this year who raced Poland in 2009 four are with new teams. What I'm trying to say is much has changed since the WRC last visited Poland. Guessing who will do well here is pretty much just that, a guess.

That said there are three particular drivers to watch, all in Fords (which doesn't narrow it down, more than half the entrants are in Fords). Mikko Hirvonen was the winner the last time the WRC visited Poland. As the only Poland winner on the entry list he's arguably a favorite of sorts. Henning Solberg is also one to watch, he finished third here in 2009, and any place where Henning can get himself on the podium is a place worth noting. The third man to watch is Robert Kubica. His season has been... trying, but this time he has home field advantage. This is the one rally where he knows the roads and the road type better than any other competitor. Factor in how much he'll want to perform well and get a good finish in front of his home fans (and holy hell are Polish racing fans passionate and excitable) and he's definitely someone to keep his eye on. The only question is whether he's more likely to be careful to ensure his home fans can see him finish with points or push (too) hard trying to impress said fans and possibly damage the car.

And with that it's time to make your predictions as to who will make it through Rally Portugal unscathed. If you've forgotten the rules or are new to Fantasy WRC (WELCOME!) be sure to read them all !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Below are the WRC competitors entered for Rally Poland. For the full entry list (WRC2 drivers, etc. Remember, you can pick any driver on the entry list ) !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! And, as always, the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! are available for you numerophiles.

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VOLKSWAGEN MOTORSPORT
•Sebastien Ogier - Average points last 10 races: 22.6
•Jari-Matti Latvala - Average points last 10 races: 15.6

CITROEN TOTAL ABU DHABI WRT
•Kris Meeke - Average points last 10 races: 5.3
•Mads Østberg - Average points last 10 races: 9.6

M-SPORT WRT
•Mikko Hirvonen - Average points last 10 races: 7.4
•Elfyn Evans - Average points last 7 races: 6.3

HYUNDAI MOTORSPORT
•Thierry Neuville - Average points last 10 races: 8.8
•Juho Hanninen - Average points last 9 races: 1.8

SINGLE CAR TEAMS AND INDEPENDENTS
•Andreas Mikkelsen(VW) - Average points last 10 races: 8.4
•Robert Kubica(Ford) - Average points last 7 races: 1.7
•Michal Solowow(Ford) - Average points last 2 races: 0.0
•Henning Solberg(Ford) - Average points last 10 races: 5.9
•Hayden Paddon(Hyundai) - Average points last 1 races: 0.0
•Martin Prokop(Ford) - Average points last 10 races: 5.6
•Krzysztof Holowczyc(Ford) - Average points last 1 races: 8.0

POINTS-SCORING WRC2 DRIVERS:
•Jari Ketomaa - Average points last 10 races: 1.5
•Ott Tanak - Average points last 10 races: 0.8
•Bryan Bouffier - No WRC2 Data (Deal with it)

DISCUSSION (31)

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > Dusty Ventures
06/23/2014 at 15:29

- Ogier
- Hirvonen
- Ostberg
- Neuville
- Mikkelsen

PS: Ogier

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > Dusty Ventures
06/23/2014 at 16:23

1. Ogier can into Poland

2. Kubica for the glory of home team will finally place 2nd

3. Evans makes good drumheads

4. Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad Mads Østberg

5. Wow Michal Such Solowow

Kinja'd!!!

Ogier

Hoccy > Dusty Ventures
06/23/2014 at 18:23

Well, I haven't watched the whole 2009 review yet, but I've made some notes and since I'm back on the overall podium it's time to do some gambling with some of the picks again.

1. Jari-Matti Latvala: We're close enough to Finland now, and the roads in Poland is very similar to the Finnish stages. It's time to pick Latvala again, since he was so much faster than Ogier last time.

2. Mads Østberg: Getting closer to the VW's in each rally now, and he's a lot better than he was in 2009. Most improved driver together with Ogier.

3. Mikko Hirvonen: Because he will be eager to do well after the fire in Sardegna. Plus he's a Finn, and has won the rally before.

4. Andreas Mikkelsen: Entered the rally in 2009 as well (with a Skoda), so should have some experience from the rally. He was as fast as Petter Solberg back then before hitting problems, so should do well here.

5. Henning Solberg: Stability in person. Will bring the car home safe and gather some points.

Power Stage: Jari-Matti Latvala

Though I'm still not sure if I should pick Latvala or Ogier.. I might change my mind after watching day 2 and day 3 of Rajd Polski 2009..

ddavidn > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 11:03

1. Latvala. I think he's gaining traction, pun fully intended.

2. Hirvonen. He knows this place.

3. Kubica. He also knows this place.

4. Mikkelsen. He's a solid pick from the independents.

5. Østberg. It's nice to vote for a Citroen once in a while.

Power: Ogier, because I always do.

ddavidn > Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire
06/24/2014 at 11:07

Those G2 coateds. Dericious.

Hermann > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 11:10

I think I Orlove'd my picks by choosing JML.

Kinja'd!!!

Raphael Orlove > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 11:42

isn't crazy leo running this?

Dusty Ventures > Raphael Orlove
06/24/2014 at 12:02

Yep. Car #110

Raphael Orlove > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 13:25

1. Kubica - you know you want it too

2. JML - took a wrong turn, drove to finland, drove back, still made second place

3. Hirvonen - I swear, this is totally the event where he gets his mojo back. Definitely gonna happen

4. Holowczyc - his first name is Krzysztof. There is literally no way that this man is not fast in a rally car. It is a mathematical impossibility

5. Hanninen - possibly the most finnish driver in the field. his wrc bio describes him as a 'cool customer.' when you're so quiet that even the WRC, so normally filled with reserved Finns, points you out as a'cool customer,' I can only assume the man makes a large boulder seem talkative. Probably going to do well.

Power: JML, rushing back to Poland from Finland, only accidentally happens to end up on the power stage and inadvertently sets the fastest time. "Where am I?" JML asks with typical Finnish humor at the finishing line.

Dusty Ventures > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 13:31

Due to issues with technology (read: Kinja) Nobody has been forced to make his picks via Twitter

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McNewbie1 > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 15:05

Ogier, Hirvonen, Ost, Mikkelsen, Solberg PS:Latvala

Lumpy44, Proprietor Of Fine Gif > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 15:34

1. Ogier <— No one man should have the Powers, clock is ticking, will be ahead of Elfyn Evans by hours.

2. Hirvonen

3. Neuville

4. Ostberg

5. Mikkelson

willkinton247 > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 15:58

1.) Ogier

2.) Hirvonen

3.) Østberg

4.) Mikkelsen

5.) Krzysztof Holowczyc because man that name is Polish.

Power: Ogier

Dusty Ventures > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 17:02

My picks:

1. Ogier

2. Ostberg

3. Mikkelsen

4. Hirvonen

5. Solberg

P. Ogier

antmicmkii > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 20:43

1. Hirvonen

2. Ogier

3. Mikkelsen

4. Ostberg

5. Neuville

P. JML

marric > Dusty Ventures
06/24/2014 at 22:50

1-Ogier

2-Ostberg

3-Kubica

4-Mikkelsen

5-Neuville

P-Ogier

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > Dusty Ventures
06/25/2014 at 09:16

Okay, I need to get my act together and score some points

1. Latvala. Similar to finish stages, should be a good rally for him

2. Östberg, because he looked super fast in the test session videos.

3. Mikkelsen

4. Hirvonen, because his bad luck must end some time

5. Hänninen

Power: Ogier, as always

Marzobomber > Dusty Ventures
06/25/2014 at 12:22

1. Latvala

2. Hirvonen

3. Ostberg

4. Kubica

5. Solberg

PS. Ogier

mcseanerson > Dusty Ventures
06/25/2014 at 12:58

-Ogier
-Ostberg
-Evans
-Mikkelsen
-Bouffier

PS: Ogier

WorldRallyBlog > Dusty Ventures
06/25/2014 at 13:07

1. Sebastien Ogier

2. Mads Ostberg

3. Andreas Mikkelsen

4. Thierry Neuville

5. Robert Kubica

P.S. Mikko Hirvonen

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Dusty Ventures
06/25/2014 at 13:11

Jarri Matti is my pick.

Also, excellent Pink Floyd reference, there.

Dusty Ventures > DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully
06/25/2014 at 14:18

I was hoping someone would pick up on that.

You need to pick a top five, no two can be from the same team (which is why I have all the drivers broken down by team up above). You also need to pick a power stage driver, who can be absolutely anyone, including one of your top five or a teammate of one of your top five.

DancesWithRotors - Driving Insightfully > Dusty Ventures
06/25/2014 at 14:36

So, Jarri Matti

Ostberg

Mikkelsen

Neuville

Hirvonen.

PS - Ogier